BAE Systems Australia and the federal government have signed a $150 million contract for the continued development, procurement and sustainment of the Nulka anti-missile decoy rocket. In service on more than 140 surface combat ships in the US, Australian and Canadian navies, Nulka is a hovering rocket that carries sophisticated electronic warfare electronics. Fired automatically…
Advanced materials company Altech Chemicals has succeeded in applying a nano layer coating of alumina to silicon particles typical of particles used to manufacture anodes of lithium-ion batteries. This follows the successful application of the coating to graphite particles, also used in battery manufacture. The Perth company, which mines at Meckering in Western Australia and…
Metal additive manufacturing company Titomic has secured a major Indian distributor for its Titomic Kinetic Fusion metal 3D printers. Titomic has ‘formed a relationship’ with Shree Rapid Technologies (SRT) to sell printers and promote the TKF technology in India, which has a large high technology manufacturing sector. Interim CEO of Titomic, Norbert Schulze said: “Banking…
The 13 Lichte Brigade (13 Light Brigade) and the Royal Netherlands Army Staff Strategy and Planning section have demonstrated how remote weapons stations (RWS) manufactured by Electro Optic Systems in Canberra could increase the firepower of its armoured vehicles. The brigade already has the EOS RWS mounted on the Australian made Thales Bushmaster armoured vehicles…
Mohsen Varsei takes a look at the parlous state of Australian manufacturing. He argues the answer is to refocus on operations and supply chain excellence. This sets new business horizons and becomes the manufacturing firm’s advantage. The government recently acknowledged that ‘manufacturing in Australia has stagnated. Not enough manufacturers are scaling-up’. Its ‘vision is for…
Glen Casey looks at the future of support for manufacturing once JobKeeper finishes at the end of March. He argues that large job losses are inevitable when JobKeeper is removed, suggesting a policy focus for SME manufacturers of job retention, and providing support to management to navigate a path in the new post COVID world.…
Austal Philippines has farewelled Fjord Line AS’ FSTR (pictured), the largest high speed aluminium ferry ever constructed in the Philippines The vessel, an Austal Auto Express 109 designed in Australia and constructed in Balamban, Cebu, capable of transporting 1,200 passengers at speeds up to 40 knots. It features Austal’s largest ever vehicle-carrying capacity to date,…
Sergiy Tsimidanov led Softmed Australia during the global pandemic to become a major manufacturer of personal protection equipment, including onshoring latex surgical glove production. Here he explains the reasons why the company invested more than $30 million to build a new factory and reinvented the PPE industry. Among the lessons of the past year is…
Australian battery electric bus manufacturer Custom Denning is to launch its zero-emission Element battery electric bus in the United Kingdom followed by a hydrogen fuel cell version, according to media reports in the UK motoring press. Route One reported the first demonstrator was likely to arrive in the UK in 2022. In October the company,…
Electric vehicle drive manufacturer SEA Electric Holdings has raised $54 million (US$42 million) to supercharge its market expansion as a global player in the rapid switch to electric powered trucks and vans. In November the company announced it had closed the first $20 million of a proposed $30 million series A funding round led by…
